Jah-Lah Tyree Vanderhorst, 16, of 414 Delaware Ave., Albany, was charged with second-degree murder for allegedly killing Tyler Rhodes, 17, of Albany, with a knife during a Saturday, April 30, 2011, attack in Hoffman Park. (Albany Police Department) less

Jah-Lah Tyree Vanderhorst, 16, of 414 Delaware Ave., Albany, was charged with second-degree murder for allegedly killing Tyler Rhodes, 17, of Albany, with a knife during a Saturday, April 30, 2011, attack in ... more

Image 3 of 7

Tyler Rhodes, 17, of Albany was stabbed to death on Saturday, April 30, 2011, during an altercation with two men. Albany police charged two teenagers with his killing. (Family photo)

Tyler Rhodes, 17, of Albany was stabbed to death on Saturday, April 30, 2011, during an altercation with two men. Albany police charged two teenagers with his killing. (Family photo)

Image 4 of 7

Stacey Rhodes, center, and Michael Sofer, right, mother and step-father of Tyler Rhodes, mourn his loss with Tyler's grandfather James Rhodes, left, and friend Sarah Acker for a rally held in Tyler's memory on Thursday, May 6, 2011, at Hoffman Park in Albany, N.Y. The Aim for Peace Rally follows the stabbing death of 17-year-old Tyler Rhodes at the park last week. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union archive) less

Stacey Rhodes, center, and Michael Sofer, right, mother and step-father of Tyler Rhodes, mourn his loss with Tyler's grandfather James Rhodes, left, and friend Sarah Acker for a rally held in Tyler's memory on ... more

Photo: Cindy Schultz

Image 5 of 7

Image 6 of 7

Albany High ninth grade student Tyler Rhodes reads his rap song during the "More Rhymes, Les Crime" show at the Palace Theater in this 2008 photo. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union archive)

Albany High ninth grade student Tyler Rhodes reads his rap song during the "More Rhymes, Les Crime" show at the Palace Theater in this 2008 photo. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union archive)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

Image 7 of 7

Would-be cop in morning, alleged accomplice at night

1 / 7

Back to Gallery

ALBANY — On the morning of April 30, Dhoruba Shuaib took the exam to be an Albany police officer — a test he would pass.

Within hours, the 19-year-old was near a basketball court at Hoffman Park in Albany where, prosecutors say, he helped another teen stab to death Tyler Rhodes, a member of the Albany High School track team.

Shuaib is not accused of being the stabber. Rather, prosecutors contend he restricted Rhodes' movements, which allowed Jah-Lah Vanderhorst, now 17, to stab Rhodes using a large, black knife. They also allege Vanderhorst handed Shuaib the weapon, then got it back from Shuaib before mortally wounding Rhodes, 17.

"But for this defendant's actions, Tyler Rhodes would be alive today," Chief Assistant District Attorney David Rossi told jurors in his 12-minute opening statement, as family members of both Rhodes and Shuaib looked on.

More Information

A witness videotaped the incident using a cellphone camera. The video, taken by 16-year-old Kahree Langston, was shown twice to the jury Monday. It captured what appeared to be Vanderhorst stabbing Rhodes in the chest following a confrontation witnessed by several youths. At times, Langston is heard telling Vanderhorst to stop and, "Put the knife away!"

Shuaib is near Vanderhorst on the video, which moves quickly. The prosecution and defense differ on its evidence of Shuaib's guilt. Vanderhorst will be tried March 5.

Shuaib's defense attorney Cheryl Coleman blasted the allegations as so untrue they should anger the jury. She said her client had no motive, no opportunity and was simply one of several people present.

In a 30-minute opening, she said Albany police kept Shuaib shackled to the floor of a station from the early evening until 4 a.m.

The attorney added, "He's a good kid. He's not guilty."

Rossi said Rhodes and Vanderhorst had a past — Vanderhorst had previously thrown bricks at Rhodes. And two days prior to the stabbing, the prosecutor said, Vanderhorst chased a jogging Rhodes with a knife. He said Vanderhorst was "on a mission" to stab Rhodes.

Rhodes had even told his mother he might have to stab Vanderhorst in the leg, if necessary, telling her, "This isn't going to end until one of us is dead," Rossi told jurors.

"Tyler was at his wit's end," he said.

He said Rhodes and Vanderhorst met at the park at 7 p.m. April 30. Rhodes wanted a regular fight to end the problems between the two — but had a switchblade given to him by a friend, Rossi said.

Rossi said Vanderhorst tried to stab Rhodes, but had difficulty doing so because the teenager was athletic and quick. He said Shuaib flanked Rhodes and restricted his movements like a "pick" in basketball. He said Vanderhorst gave the knife to Shuaib, who later gave it back to him and Vanderhorst stabbed Rhodes in the heart. As Rhodes ran after Vanderhorst, Rossi said, Shuaib struck him in the head. Rhodes collapsed and died.

The prosecutor said Shuaib ran away and removed his shirt, but was caught a few blocks away.

Hanif Cropper, 18, Rhodes' best friend, testified Monday he saw Vanderhorst hand his knife to Shuaib, whom he identified. That came after Rossi refreshed Cropper's memory, showing him his statement to police from the night of the stabbing.

Cropper said he did not know how Rhodes also ended up with a knife — and that he never had one himself. Another witness, Evita Robinson, later testified she believed Cropper gave Rhodes the knife during the incident.

Coleman had said her client later struck Rhodes because he saw Rhodes armed with a knife and running toward Vanderhorst.

Jury selection, which began Thursday morning, wrapped up Friday.

If convicted, Shuaib faces 25 years to life in prison. The trial continues Tuesday.